12 Liverpool Youth and Reserve Team Players to Watch This Season

Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers-led era is well and truly underway with four signings brought in, a whole host of last season's squad members having left and matches in both Premier League and Europa League under the manager's belt already.

It is a much-changed squad overall, but one which has been left considerably short in some areas in particular.

With the transfer window shut now until January, Brendan Rodgers has hinted that he will turn to the club's youth prospects to bulk out a squad which "needs help" in coping with competing on four fronts this term.

Raheem Sterling has already seemingly nailed down a place in the Reds' starting XI for league matches, with his pace, trickery and technique all proving stand-out positives in the early weeks of the season despite Liverpool not having won a game yet.

Here are 12 other young prospects in the club's ranks who could get their chance to make an impact this season.

Adam Morgan

A name on plenty of supporters' lips already having made his senior debut in the first leg vs. Hearts and his full debut a week later in the return fixture, Adam Morgan is a striker who has been prolific for the under-18's side.

Morgan is a left-footed serial goal-poacher. His movement inside the penalty area is quick and ahead of the game, but outside of it he relies much on two-touch control and laying off a simple ball, not getting involved in the build-up play too much.

He played his first full game out on the right side of the attack and did find the net, but it was ruled out as the ball had already gone out for a goal kick.

He's very likely to get further chances in the Europa League group stage, with attackers at a premium in Liverpool's squad.

Suso

Creative midfielder Suso is a bright prospect who manager Brendan Rodgers has already mentioned as being one of the possible starlets to be involved with the first team over the coming months.

Another left-footed player, Suso can play either central midfield or behind the attacker, though he also featured from the right side of attack for the first team in the preseason tour of North America.

Suso is a clever, technically gifted player who has an eye for the spectacular.

Consistency in his game and more aggression off the ball are needed if he is to continue his development and find a route to first team football.

Jack Robinson

One of only two recognised left-backs in the entire Liverpool first team squad, Jack Robinson is likely to get plenty of chances to add to his six Reds appearances so far, even if winger Stewart Downing will get increased game time in that position as well.

Robinson is a tough-tackling, yet cultured and aggressive attacking full-back, combining good physical attributes with excellent technique.

He is arguably the under-20 player at the club who has the biggest chance of making it as a regular first team player.

He should really be aiming to make between 10 and 20 appearances this season in all competitions and has a chance, if he continues to improve, of displacing Jose Enrique in the first XI by the end of the season.

Conor Coady

One of the Liverpool reserves most consistent and endearing players, second string captain Conor Coady, is a talented and hard-working central midfielder with great stamina and plenty of ability on the ball.

Also capable of playing in central defence, Coady is not afraid to challenge and is a fierce competitor.

It is in midfield, however, where he really excels, sitting in a deep role to let the more attacking players do their job in the knowledge that he is patrolling the area behind the ball and in front of the defence.

Coady should really make his Reds debut this season having been part of Europa League squads before.

He will find it tough to get anywhere near the first team midfield in league games, but even a small handful of minutes in one or two cup competitions will be a massive step forward.

Samed Yesil

Liverpool did bring in a striker on transfer deadline day, but it wasn't one of the ones most fans were expecting.

Samed Yesil was signed from Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former Reds defender Sami Hyypia.

Yesil is a forward with good movement and a track record of scoring at youth level, both with club and country. In the current international break he helped Germany destroy England, scoring twice and assisting once in a 3-1 win.

He has been handed an immediate first team squad number, No. 36, and may vie with Adam Morgan for a place up front in cup competitions.

Andre Wisdom

Man-mountain Andre Wisdom is one of the reserves' (now the U-21's) top players, playing at both centre-back and right-back.

Undoubtedly better in the middle of the back line, Wisdom is strong and imposing, good in the air and comfortable on the ball—though he's certainly a "defend first" type.

Wisdom has been in first team squads before, notably being named on the bench for the humiliating League Cup exit at the hands of Northampton a couple of seasons ago, and should be ready to push on for cup matches game time this term.

Stephen Sama will be a threat to challenge Wisdom in reaching the first team, but Wisdom is arguably the better player.

Kristoffer Peterson and Sam Gainford

Swedish winger Kris Peterson is one of two young wingers who will be competing for a berth at both U18 and U21 level this season, along with Sam Gainford.

While Gainford prefers playing on the left, Peterson is more often found on the opposite flank.

Both are exceptionally skillful and can make things happen in the final third from out wide, have plenty of pace and can, if needed, play on both flanks.

It is unlikely that either will see game time this season for the first team, but they certainly bare watching for the younger levels.

With the current dearth of options in the final third for Brendan Rodgers they are an outside bet to feature in a competitive game.

Yalany Baio

A powerful defensive midfielder with a real presence in the middle of the park, Yalany Baio is definitely one worth watching out for.

Like Coady, he will struggle to make an impression in the first team this season due to the sheer numbers and quality above him, but if he keeps progressing and learning he is a future option for sure.

Baio keeps things simple on the ball but is also capable of bursting through the centre at pace, and supporting the play in the final third.

A good tackler and willing worker, he should provide a good foil for the U18s and U21s' more adventurous players this season.

Michael Ngoo

Soon after Andy Carroll's exit on loan to West Ham, coupled with Liverpool's failure to bring in a replacement, some stated that Michael Ngoo could be an alternative to Carroll if he wasn't such a similar type of player, which Rodgers clearly didn't want.

Ignore this mindless drivel.

The only real attribute Ngoo shares with Andy Carroll is his height.

Ngoo is a tricky, ball-dribbling forward who has a good turn of pace and is a confident finisher. His height and build may have given him an advantage over the past couple of seasons playing against smaller lads of a similar age, but he has continued improving and will look to make an impact at U-21 level this term.

He is an option for the Europa League, though certainly behind Yesil and Morgan.

Jordan Ibe

Another one of the most promising youngsters in the Liverpool system, Jordan Ibe is an attacker who can play as a striker or as a winger, and went with the squad on the North American tour this summer.

Ibe is one who, despite being just 16 years of age, has a real chance of making it at the club and taking his first steps to that end by making his debut this season, perhaps later in the year.

He is fast, direct and certainly raw at this stage, but his confidence is impressive and he could go on to be a real goal threat cutting in from the right side, even though he is right-footed.

High up on the list of "ones to watch."

Ryan McLaughlin

Any Reds fan who hasn't yet seen this kid in action needs to get viewing the U-18s and U-21s this season.

Ryan McLaughlin is a fine attacking full-back, who plays on the right side of the defence.

He's another who went on tour with the first team and played just a handful of minutes, but it was a justified reward for some impressive work over the past year.

Adventurous, fast, good control on the ball and never relinquishing his defensive duties, McLaughlin can definitely see some first team action this term and should look at establishing himself as a member of the Europa League squad.

His is a good bet to overtake Jon Flanagan as the third right-back in the team this season, despite Flanagan's greater experience.

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